Category: Balkans

Ljubljana is the gorgeous capital city of small country of Slovenia. While being centrally located, the city is a perfect location to stay in while visiting the rest of the country. This Slovenia travel guide will explain what to do in and around Ljubljana as well as provide some first-hand budget travel tips!

I spent a week in Ljubljana with my friend who is born and raised in the country. As the capital was our “home base,” we were able to check out some of the most famous attractions like Lake Bled, Piran, Postojna, and even the Slovenian Alps, all of which were under 2 hours away. We are both students, so we naturally found the cheapest food, transportation, and attractions.

The Ljubljana Castle stands prominently at one of the highest points in the city, making it hard to miss. The castle was fully rebuilt in the early 1900s when there was a growing urge cultural significance to the site under the rule of the former Austria-Hungary empire. Today, the castle has an art exhibit, a tourist (trap) shop, multiple museum exhibits, a cafe, and a fancy wine bar. Visitors can either take the elevator or hike to the entrance of the castle.

If you want to visit the castle free of charge, you can still visit most of the Ljubljana Castle. First, you will need to take the hike up the hill rather than the elevator. Then you will want to visit the free exhibits like the defense exhibit on the first floor and the art exhibit under the first floor. Whether you pay or not, you will be able to wander around the inside and outside of the castle, sharing similar experiences.

Tivoli Park is a massive green and forested park located at the heart of the Slovenian capital. With 5 sq km in size, the sizeable park takes a few hours to fully experience. It hosts gardens, grass, a church, and a few restaurants.

For a nice break from the busy city, I recommend following the map below. This was the route that I took, starting at the far east end of the park and moving clockwise. A nice half-way point is the Church of Mary Visitation (the blue pin with a white square on the map). Pack a lunch and take a hike above the city into the lush Tivoli Park!

The National Museum of Slovenia costs €8 for adults at €4 for students. thankfully, this price includes an audio guide. The museum starts its timeline in ancient times and ends around the Middle Ages. Give yourself about an hour to walk through the exhibit. The first floor contains a single hallway of Roman sculptures and other stonework. Upstairs is where the bulk of the museum’s artifacts are.

As Slovenia was strategically located for the Roman Empire, many exhibits in the museum are focused on the Romans. Although, it was contested land with barbaric tribes, and later the Franks and Venetians. Conclusively, Slovenia was a territory that held significance for various groups throughout history. The museum takes you through the history quite well.

After checking out the Ljubljana Castle and National Museum, take a walk down the beautiful streets of the city. The Slovenian capital has an underrated city center and therefore should be enjoyed by everyone. The best places to enjoy the city are along the Ljubljanica river. Likewise, the best cafes and restaurants are located here. Obviously, the city center brings heavier prices, so keep that in mind.

Additionally, make sure to walk over the famous Dragon Bridge. The dragon is a unique culutral symbol in Slovenia, representing strength and protection. The figure arose from some past folklore.

Believe it or not, Slovenia is also a Mediterranean country. As the country’s tiny coastline was previously Venetian, the infrastructure reflects its history. All of the street signs are even in both Italian and Slovenian.

The best of the coastal towns has to be Piran. It is only a 1.5-hour drive from Ljubljana and about 2 hours on a bus. I spent an afternoon wandering the town’s narrow streets and coastline. Make sure to visit destination out during a sunset!

On your way out of town, I recommend checking out the cliffs into the Adriatic from Park Strunjan. As you gander at the cliffs in the distance, walk to the top of the park and get a picture of Strunjan Cross. On a clear day it is even possible to see the Slovenian and Italian Alps. There is a free parking lot at the bottom of the hill.

No Slovenia travel guide is complete without a visit to the famous Lake Bled. While driving through, it is easy to see why it is the most visited area in the whole country. Lake Bled has panoramic mountains and a quaint church perched in the middle of the lake. Lake Bled is also only about an hour away from the capital city, but this varies heavily on traffic.

The best thing to do in the town is to get on a trail and climb to the best views of the island, including a backdrop of the Alps. The best place for this is at the top of Mala Osojnica. To access this hike, park at the free parking at the base of the easy 1.1-mile hike.

It is quite easy to access Bled via bus from Ljubljana, with more than 20 daily departures. Doing this also saves money due to high gas prices and expensive parking. Check time tables and pricing on AP Lujbljana’s website.

Because of the high demand of visits to Lake Bled, the prices in the town reflect the tourism demand. To avoid unreasonable prices, pack a lunch refrain from any kayak tours. The best views of the lake are from the neighboring hikes. Also, do NOT go to the castle. Even though it is perched beautifully on a hill, it costs €11 for entrance and does not offer much inside. Although, it is worth hiking up the hill that the castle sits on for a different angle of the gorgeous lake.

Triglav National Park is the most beautiful place in this Slovenia travel guide. It hosts the tallest peaks in Slovenia, dozens of trails, ski areas, and quaint mountain towns. It is also a perfect budget travel destination when compared to similar landscapes in neighboring countries like Austria and Italy.

I spent an eventful day here, trying to see as much as possible. Here are some of my suggestions for a day trip to Triglav National Park.

As Triglav National Park is quite remote, it is difficult to find a ride to the park without a car from Ljubljana. Ride-sharing is popular in Slovenia and many people use it. (INSERT APP NAME)

Peš pot Tamar is a recreation area at the center of cross country skiing and hiking in Triglav National Park. Due to it winter skiing presence, the snow is packed down enough in the winter to go on a hike into the canyon.

There is a free parking lot next to the massive ski jump, near the trailhead. There are countless hikes in this area, so be sure to spend all day here.

Zelenci Nature Reserve is a neat pit-stop on your way out of town. Here, you will find a short .25-mile walk towards some fascinating volcanic pools. The bubbles created from volcanic activity are best seen when elevated. Subsequently, there is a tall wooden structure that allows visitors to see the bubbles from above.

There is free parking in front of Gostilna Zelenci, a road-side diner. It is also a great place for a cheap post-hike beer.

Jezero Jasna is a fancy mountain town neighboring the famous ski area, Kranjska Gora. We could not afford a meal or any activities in this town, but it has some of the best views in Slovenia.

There is a hidden dirt road right past the town that leads to some of the best views of the mountains. The road does not have a name, but it is the first left when heading uphill from the town.

One of the top Slovenia travel destinations is Postojna Cave. Although it is the second longest cave system in Slovenia, it is the most easily accessible. Due to its accessibility, it is the second most visited cave in Europe.

Despite Postojna being crowded, the experience into the cave is special. Entrance costs €25 for adults and €20 for students. This price includes the 1-hour tour throughout the cave with a narrative. As you arrive, you will organize by language, as they offer more than 7 different language tours. the first 10 minutes are spent on a train that takes you to the depths of the cave.

In conclusion, the Postojna Caves are intricate and vast, but also busy and overpriced. Expect long lines but also incredible views.

To get to the caves without a car, take the frequent bus from Ljubljana. As the Postojna Caves are one of the country’s most visited sites, there are plenty of travel times. Check the bus website for more information.

• Get the best €3 burek of your life from Olympia Burek in Ljubljana.
• To find a gift shop in Ljubljana, walk down Trubarjeva cesta.
• Download Prevosi, a ride-share app specific to Slovenia. Always check this app first before taking a bus to one of the touristy destinations.
• Get panoramic views at the cafe on the top of Nebotičnik- the tallest building in Ljubljana.
• Taking the bus to coastal towns like Piran and Izola is cheaper and more convenient than finding parking.
• If traveling by air, it is usually cheaper to fly to Zagreb and take a 2-hour FlixBus to Ljubljana.

This Slovenia travel guide simplifies this amazing country and its gems. As Ljubljana sits perfectly in the middle of the country, it is easy to make day trips to various regions like Postojna Caves, Triglav National Park, and even the Mediterranean coast. Coupled with cheap food and friendly hosts, Slovenia is a dream budget travel destination.